Forza Horizon 5 stands as one of the most visually stunning and mechanically refined open-world racing games ever created. Set in the diverse landscapes of Mexico, it offers a playground that spans from active volcanoes to lush jungles. However, for players looking to dive in, the variety of editions available can be confusing. The Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition is marketed as the definitive package, but understanding what is inside—and what is not—is crucial before spending the extra money.

The Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition includes the base game, two major expansions (Hot Wheels and Rally Adventure), the VIP Membership, the Car Pass, and the Welcome Pack. It is designed to provide an immediate influx of cars, credits, and new maps to explore.

The Core Experience: The Base Game in Mexico

At the heart of the Premium Edition is the standard version of Forza Horizon 5. The game features the largest map in the history of the Horizon series, meticulously recreating various biomes of Mexico. In our testing, the transition between these biomes feels seamless, whether you are drifting through the streets of Guanajuato or blasting through the sandy deserts of the Baja California peninsula.

The base game includes over 700 cars at launch, a robust campaign called "Horizon Stories," and a dynamic weather system that introduces dust storms and tropical hurricanes. The Premium Edition ensures you have the strongest foundation to start this journey, but the real value lies in the layers added on top of this massive base.

Expansion 1: Forza Horizon 5 Hot Wheels

The first major expansion included in the Premium Edition is Forza Horizon 5: Hot Wheels. This is not just a collection of new cars; it is an entirely new world located high above the clouds of Mexico.

The World of Horizon Nexus

The Hot Wheels park features over 200 kilometers of the iconic orange tracks. These are not standard roads. We observed that the physics change significantly here; the high-speed loops and banked turns require cars with high downforce. The expansion is divided into three islands, each with a different theme: the Giant's Canyon, the Ice Cauldron, and the Forest Falls.

Exclusive Hot Wheels Cars

This expansion adds 10 new cars to your garage, including:

  • 2021 Hennessey Venom F5
  • 2000 Hot Wheels Deora II
  • 2012 Hot Wheels Bad to the Blade
  • 2013 Hot Wheels Baja Bone Shaker

For players who enjoy arcade-style racing and gravity-defying stunts, this expansion justifies a significant portion of the Premium Edition's price tag.

Expansion 2: Forza Horizon 5 Rally Adventure

The second expansion, Rally Adventure, shifts the focus from high-speed loops to rugged, off-road intensity. Located in the new region of Sierra Nueva, this expansion is built for those who prefer the dirt, gravel, and unpredictable terrain of rally racing.

Sierra Nueva Map Details

Sierra Nueva is a masterpiece of technical track design. It features deformable sand trails, a massive quarry, and an entirely smashable palm forest. Unlike the main map, the roads here are tighter and more punishing. In our deep-dive gameplay, we found that the pace notes provided by the co-driver in the helicopter add a layer of immersion previously missing from the series.

Rally-Ready Vehicles

Rally Adventure introduces another 10 cars specifically tuned for off-road performance. Notable additions include:

  • 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum
  • 1973 Hoonigan Volkswagen Baja Beetle Class 5/1600 'Scumbug'
  • 2001 Ford #4 Ford Focus RS

This expansion also unlocks the ability to build "Anti-Lag" rally monsters, complete with backfiring flames and explosive engine sounds, which are available across the entire game once unlocked.

The VIP Membership: Accelerating Your Progress

The VIP Membership is perhaps the most "functional" part of the Premium Edition. It is designed to remove the grind that sometimes accompanies the mid-game progression.

Double Race Rewards

The most significant perk of the VIP Membership is the 2x Credit (CR) race rewards. In our performance analysis, a standard race that pays out 20,000 CR will pay a VIP member 40,000 CR. Over dozens of hours of gameplay, this adds up to millions of extra credits, allowing you to purchase the most expensive "Auto Show" cars like the Ferrari 250 GTO much faster.

Exclusive VIP Items

  • 3 Exclusive Forza Edition Cars: These cars come with built-in XP or Credit boosts.
  • Crown Flair: A VIP icon next to your gamertag in multiplayer lobbies.
  • Vanity Items: Exclusive clothing, an emote, and a unique car horn.
  • Player House: A free gifted house that usually costs a significant amount of in-game credits.
  • Weekly Bonus Super Wheelspins: Every week, VIPs receive two Super Wheelspins, which provide three rewards at once, ranging from rare cars to huge stacks of cash.

The Car Pass: A Massive Garage Expansion

The Car Pass is a dream for collectors. It includes a total of 42 additional cars that were released on a weekly schedule following the game's launch. For new buyers of the Premium Edition, all 42 cars are available immediately.

Each of these cars can be claimed once for free in your in-game garage without spending any in-game credits. The selection is diverse, ranging from classic muscle cars to modern supercars and niche track toys. This ensures that from day one, you have a competitive vehicle for every possible race type and PR stunt.

The Welcome Pack: The Perfect Head Start

While the VIP membership focuses on long-term growth, the Welcome Pack is about the first hour of play. It includes:

  • 5 Specially Pre-Tuned Cars: These cars are upgraded to the top of their respective classes, making them competitive immediately.
  • One-Time Car Voucher: This is a powerful tool. It allows you to pick any one car available in the Auto Show for free, regardless of its price. We recommend using this for the most expensive car in the game to maximize its value.
  • A Gift Player House: Providing an immediate spawn point and garage access.
  • Clothing Items: Three one-time grants for common or rare clothing.

Comparing the Editions: Why Choose Premium?

To understand if the Premium Edition is the right choice, we must look at how it stacks up against the other versions.

Feature Standard Edition Deluxe Edition Premium Edition
Full Base Game Yes Yes Yes
Car Pass No Yes Yes
Hot Wheels Expansion No No Yes
Rally Adventure Expansion No No Yes
VIP Membership No No Yes
Welcome Pack No No Yes

The Standard Edition is best for casual players who just want to drive around Mexico. The Deluxe Edition is often considered the "middle ground," but it lacks the expansions, which are the most substantial pieces of content. The Premium Edition is the only version that provides the complete "Horizon" experience with both new maps.

Technical Performance and Platform Availability

Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition is available across a wide range of hardware, and the experience varies slightly depending on your platform.

Xbox Series X and S

On the Xbox Series X, the game runs at a crisp 4K resolution. You can choose between "Quality Mode" (30 FPS with maximum graphical fidelity and ray tracing in ForzaVista) and "Performance Mode" (60 FPS with scaled resolution). On the Series S, the game is optimized for 1440p at 30 FPS or 1080p at 60 FPS.

PC (Windows and Steam)

The PC version is the most flexible. It supports ultra-widescreen monitors, unlocked framerates, and advanced features like NVIDIA DLSS and AMD FSR. To run the game at "Extreme" settings, we recommend at least an NVIDIA RTX 3080 or equivalent.

The New Frontier: PlayStation 5

As of 2025, Forza Horizon 5 has expanded to the PlayStation 5. The Premium Edition on PS5 includes all the same content as the Xbox/PC versions. It leverages the DualSense wireless controller for haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, which simulate the feeling of different road surfaces and the tension of the brake pedal. The PS5 Pro version offers even further enhancements in ray tracing and stability.

What is NOT Included in the Premium Edition?

It is a common misconception that the Premium Edition includes every single piece of DLC ever released for Forza Horizon 5. This is not true.

The Premium Edition does not include:

  1. Treasure Map: This is a separate purchase that reveals all bonus boards and barn finds on the map.
  2. Recent Individual Car Packs: Since the game's launch, several themed car packs (like the Fast X Car Pack, Universal Icons Car Pack, or Italian Exotics Car Pack) have been released. These must be purchased separately or as part of the "Ultimate Car Pack Collection."
  3. Collaborative DLC: Certain brand-specific promotional content may not be included.

Is it Worth Buying in 2025?

After years of content updates and the release of two major expansions, the value proposition of the Premium Edition has actually increased. When the game first launched, the expansions were "promises" of future content. Today, they are fully realized worlds ready to be explored.

Who should buy the Premium Edition?

  • Completionists: If you want to earn every achievement and see every corner of the map, the expansions are mandatory.
  • Competitive Players: The VIP bonus and Car Pass vehicles give you a massive advantage in the Trial and other seasonal events.
  • Newcomers: If you are starting for the first time, the Welcome Pack and VIP perks make the early-game experience much smoother.

Who should stick to the Standard Edition?

  • Casual Drivers: If you only plan to play for a few hours a week and don't care about collecting every car, the base game is already massive enough to keep you occupied for months.
  • Budget-Conscious Players: You can always buy the "Premium Add-Ons Bundle" later if you start with the standard game or play via Game Pass.

Summary of the Premium Bundle Benefits

The Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition represents the pinnacle of the racing genre. By bundling two distinct expansions that offer vastly different gameplay styles—the arcade speed of Hot Wheels and the technical grit of Rally Adventure—it caters to all types of racing fans. The inclusion of the VIP Membership and Car Pass ensures that the game's economy never feels like a chore, allowing you to focus on the joy of driving.

While it is the most expensive entry point, the sheer volume of content—hundreds of cars, dozens of hours of additional campaign missions, and two entirely new maps—makes it a high-value investment for anyone serious about their virtual racing career.

FAQ

What is the difference between the Premium Edition and the Premium Add-Ons Bundle? The Premium Edition includes the base game. The Premium Add-Ons Bundle includes all the extra content (Expansions, VIP, Car Pass, Welcome Pack) but requires you to already own the base game or have an active Xbox Game Pass subscription to play.

Does Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition include all cars? No. It includes the base game cars, the Car Pass cars, expansion-exclusive cars, and VIP/Welcome Pack cars. However, it does not include cars from the "Ultimate Car Pack Collection" or other independent DLC packs released later in the game's lifecycle.

Do I need an internet connection to use Premium Edition content? You need an internet connection to download the content and to participate in online features like the Horizon Arcade or Auction House. However, once the expansions are downloaded, they can be played offline.

Is the Premium Edition available on Steam? Yes, the Premium Edition is available on Steam and offers full feature parity with the Microsoft Store version, though cross-save progress between Steam and Xbox/Windows is not supported.

Can I upgrade to Premium Edition later? Yes. If you own the Standard Edition, you can purchase the Premium Add-Ons Bundle at any time to get all the benefits of the Premium Edition without rebuying the game.